Maoist rebel killed in Jharkhand

Ranchi, March 9 (IANS) A Maoist rebel, who was accused of killing a former minister and many security personnel, was killed on the outskirts of Ranchi in Jharkhand Monday, the police said. Rajesh Toppo, an area commander of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was killed in a gun battle near Karkari river under Tamar block of Ranchi.

“When the police raided a Maoist hideout on a tip-off, the rebels were asked to surrender. They instead retaliated. The gun battle lasted for more than five hours,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhusudan Bari said.

He said Toppo was killed during the gun battle. Toppo was accused of murdering former minister and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in July last year besides a dozen security personnel. “This is big success for the police,” Bari said.

One pistol and live cartridges were seized from the spot by the police.

In another incident, three Maoist rebels were killed in Lohardagga district Sunday.

In Jharkhand, Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state. More than 1,450 people have been killed in Maoist-related violence in the last eight years.